“While third party software development offers all kinds of tantalizing potential for the new mobile, there are a half dozen reasons why Apple may not ever deliver the iPhone fully open to third party development, following the model of gaming consoles,” Daniel Eran Dilger writes for RoughlyDrafted.
“Will Apple give third party developers the keys to its new vehicle and allow them to drive off with the value it has created? It hasn’t yet, and there are a number of reasons to think that Apple won’t,” Dilger writes.
Among other things, Dilger covers:
• Web apps via Safari offers a good enough alternative to serve more than 80% of most developers’ needs
• Possible Apple-certified third-party online software sales via iTunes (see: iPod games)
• Apple may be able to establish a viable mobile platform without needing to fully open it to third party development
• Depending upon large third party developers can cause grief (see: Microsoft Office for Mac)
• Open Application Programming Interfaces involve complex management and maintenance and can create legacy issues (see: WIndows)
• A closed hardware platform offers Apple extreme flexibility for the future (see: iPod)
Dilger discusses “Six Reasons the iPhone Will Stay Closed” and much more in his full article here.
This fits nicely with the “won’t forbid or support” article.
The faster the iPhone becomes open, the better.
It’s too bad. There’s a huge potential market for a pocket-sized computer. Without the ability to configure it to my needs with software, it is simply an appliance and can never be considered a computer. Where would the Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh, etc. be without the ability to do pretty much anything imaginable by software developers? They’d be appliances that were never able to realize their full potential.
MW “progress”!
Read the article and your question will be answered.
Apple does not need to open the iPhone.
But, if I were a betting man, I’d take iWork Mobile in less the 12 months and select native 3rd party apps in less then 6 months.
Who says they will need to “depend” on 3rd party developers? Full-fledged 3rd party apps should be value added options, not items that determine the value of the platform product.
Oh, and what about iPod touch? Can we develop for that? We don’t have to worry about AT&T;’s sickly network getting blown over by a stiff breeze, right? Ah, but that would “open the door” now wouldn’t it. Can’t have that.
• Open Application Programming Interfaces involve complex management and maintenance and can create legacy issues (see: WIndows)
Please. This ain’t Windows, and it’s hardly a relevant analogy.
RoughlyDrafted Rocks, should be on all tech hacks ref lists, except they won’t like their pathetic MS bull being ripped apart.
DED . . . Namaste he he
read the fucking article before commenting jackass, your concerns are addressed.
Over time, Apple will “commission” third-party programs and sell them through the iTunes Store. That is the smart approach for a device that is more appliance than computer.
“Microsoft isn’t bad because it is closed; it is bad because it is disgustingly greedy. Windows Enthusiasts need to stop deluding themselves into thinking that they live in a free world of an open platform. They are slaves, and their master is not only vicious, but also incompetent and has no taste.”
Daniel Eran Dilger
I love this guy !!!
read the fucking article before commenting jackass, your concerns are addressed.
Well, anonymous coward, since you have so much time on your hands, why don’t you write a summary of the article as it applies to my comments.
Gee, i mentioned this article on a related post earlier today. Where’s my “attaboy”?
Okay, I just skimmed the article. Here’s what I found as it applies to my first comment: Nothing.
3rd party apps should add value, not define it. All the article says is that Apple can do this instead of letting 3rd parties do it. The other option mentioned is that I’m free to hack out my own app sans API. Wonderful. The article still assumes that there could possibly be a 3rd party app that would overshadow the inherent value of iPhone (i.e. it’s factory installed apps) that Apple would then feel obligated to develop its future APIs around. Nonesense.
Open iPod touch since it can’t affect AT&T;’s pansy network. I hardly see any mention of iPod touch, except as a means to segue into talking about Microsoft.
API Legacy issues. Article notes that “Apple has worked to develop objective APIs that are stable and resilient to internal changes, but if developers are unsatisfied with the level of performance or portability provided, they will work around the API boundary, almost guaranteeing that any significant changes made on Apple’s side will break their applications in the future.”
In other words, it doesn’t touch on the comment I made: this ain’t Windows and is hardly relevant. It takes one speculative condition and advances this as a deterrent for both developers and Apple in an open API. It’s bullshit.
So please, go fuck yourself.
“its” dammit.
I just want to know how he went from Daniel Eran to Daniel Eran Dilger. Did he get married?
I’m modifying my existing FileMaker databases. Assuming wireless access, that will facilitate incredible flexibility.
“(Microsoft) is not only vicious, but also incompetent and has no taste.”
Great quote. Someone should add that to Wikipedia.
So why does Apple even bother to make an iPhone? It’s sheer stupidity to even build such a product without 3rd party support. Laughable if you ask me. Ballmer is so right again and you guys can’t seem to accept the fact that he’s right. Apple and their little experiment to drain you fanboys your hard earned dollars are really working. I can’t believe 1 million users fell for it. hahaha
“They are slaves, and their master is not only vicious, but also incompetent and has no taste.”
many people forget the important last issue there….
“So why does Apple even bother to make an iPhone? It’s sheer stupidity to even build such a product without 3rd party support. Laughable if you ask me.”
did anyone ask you? do have credentials pertinent to this discussion? an argument? factual analysis?
no?
what, if anything, do you bring to the table besides ignorance, that makes us care what your opinion is?
Gosh Shen, I guess the truth hurts too much. Everything I said is true. No support for 3rd party software. Price trickery for early adopters, then you got suckered for accepting a $100 Apple Store credit? LOL
I hope to see 3rd party apps. I purchased my iPhone expecting some apps. Since it was launched only 2 months ago, it is too early to find 3rd party apps right away. I they don’t offer apps then I would change my device, since I need a PDA and not an iPod with a phone.
Why does Apple make an iPhone?
Apple stands to add the valuation of a RIM to its corporate worth, potentially much more. Sounds like same reason Microsoft did the same. Unfortunately to this point their success with PocketPC phones is right up there with Zune, i.e. a pretty dismal failure. Microsoft employs a lot of brilliant people. Have you ever asked yourself why they can’t seem to get anything right past the desktop?
A phone is not a PC. Leveraging the OS monopoly doesn’t get you anything. It’s a dedicated device. It’s really not important if it runs SAP, Oracle and MSOffice. And that is precisely why 3rd party support is irrelevant to the success of the iPhone.
I loved it when Steve said the #1 application on a iPhone is making phone calls. Close behind is SMS/email, web and media player. It does these better than any phone before it.
Personally I’d like to add game machine to phone-web-media player. I want some custom aps as well, but you know what? iPods and iPhones will do just fine without them and I’ll still love my iPhone everytime I get a call, look up a phone number, something up on the web, check email, watch a TV show, painlessly sync, get directions…
“Gosh Shen, I guess the truth hurts too much. Everything I said is true. No support for 3rd party software. Price trickery for early adopters, then you got suckered for accepting a $100 Apple Store credit? LOL”
what truth? what did you say? nothing…..
“it has no third party support” but you fail to explain why this matters. a lot of devices with no 3rd party support are very good, a lot with it are not. witness windows, lots of 3rd party activity, and that is part of the problem. registry anyone?
“price trickery” so i assume the RAZR is an even better example, yes? how about vista and the 12 versions on that subject. but there is still the question of whether there IS any trickery or whether they simply have managed to lower the manufacturing cost and have passed it on.
then you add the obligatory hot air about fanboys. while claiming “Ballmer is so right again”
go look up fanboy. look in the mirror, why yes that is your picture in the dictionary! good job!
either make an actual factual statement in some way, or go away….
“So why does Apple even bother to make an iPhone?”
Um, to add, say, $4,000,000,000 to their bottom line, per chance?
“So why does Apple even bother to make an iPhone?”
Or maybe it’s to leverage, their OS X, Quicktime, iTunes, iPod, iTMS, Safari software into yet another product category which has heretofore been characterized by the craptacular exploits of MS, Sony, Motorola, et al.